U.S. Department of 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

APR 28 2015 

The Honorable Bill Walker 

Governor of the State of Alaska 

State Capitol 

P.O. Box 110001 

Juneau, AK 99811 

Dear Governor Walker: 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington DC 20590 

Thank you for your letter regarding the Native Village of Diomede and Kawerak, Inc.'s request 

to become eligible for Basic Essential Air Service (EAS) under 49 USC § § 41713 and 41732. 

As you note, Diomede is not currently eligible to receive subsidized air service under the Basic 

EAS program. However, for the last several years, the U.S. Department of Transportation has 

supported air service to Diomede through the Air Transportation to Noneligible Places program 

under 49 USC§ 41736. Under that program, the Federal Government covers 50 percent of the 

cost of providing subsidized air service, with the community providing the remaining 50 percent. 

Having reliable access to and from America's small and rural communities is one of the 

Department's priorities and we stand ready to further assist Diomede if any legislative changes 

are made with regards to its eligibility to receive subsidized air service. 

Thank you for your interest in programs that assist some of our nation's most remote 

communities. If I may be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

X 1-150422-002 

Sincerely, 

Brandon M. Belford 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
STATE CAPITOL 

r.o. Box 1 1 oo<1i 

luneau. AK 9981 1-000 I 

907-465-3500 

fax: 907-465-3532 

550 West Seventh Avenue, Suite 1700 

Anchorage. AK 99 50 I 

907-269-7450 

Governor Bill Walker 

STATE OF ALASKA 

fax 907-269-7461 

www.Gov.Aiaska.Gov 

Governor@Aiaska.Gov 

March 27,2015 

The Honorable Lisa Murkowski 

United State Senate 

709 Hart Senate Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

The Honorable Don Young 

United States House of Representatives 

Rayburn House Office Building 

Washington, DC 20515 

The Honorable Dan Sullivan 

United States Senate 

B40A Dirksen Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510 

Mr. Brandon Belford 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and 2314 

International Affairs 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Room W88-324, 

Washington, DC 20590-9898 

Re: State of Alaska Support for the Native Village of Diomede's Request for Federal Legislative 

Amendments to become eligible for Essential Air Service (EAS). 

Dear Members of Alaska's Congressional Delegation and Deputy Assistant Secretary Belford: 

I write today in support of the Native Village of Diomede and Kawerak, Inc.'s (Kawerak) request to 

Alaska's Congressional delegation for a legislative amendment regarding the Essential Air Service 

program which would enable Diomede to become eligible to participate in the Basic EAS under 49 

U.S.C. §§ 47131 and 47132. 

Diomede is one of the most remote communities in the United States, and the ability to have regular 

scheduled air carrier services is critical to the health, welfare, and safety of this community. EAS 

provides Diomede with vital medicines, infant formula, and food supplies essential for the 

community. Yet, Diomede is currently left out of permanent Basic EAS designation. The proposed 

legislative amendment would correct this inequity. 

The State of Alaska in partnership with the Native Village of Diomede and Kawerak absolutely 

supports the legislative proposal provided by Diomede and Kawerak as submitted to your offices in 

correspondence dated February 18, 2015. 

Sincerely, 

Bill Walker 

Governor 
The Honorable Lisa Murkowski et. al. 

Native Village of Diomede EAS 

March 2"1, 2015 

Page 2 

cc: The Honorable Donny Olson, Alaska State Senate 

The Honorable Neal Foster, Alaska State House of Representatives 

John Bioff, General Counsel, Kawerak, Inc. 

Robert Soolook Jr. President, Native Village of Diomede 

The Honorable Chris Hladick, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Commerce, 

Community, and Economic Development 

Fred Parady, Deputy Commissioner, Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, 

and Economic Development 

Katherine Eldemar, Director, Division of Community and Regional Affairs, Alaska 

Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development 

Kip Knudson, Director of State and Federal Relations, Office of the Governor